GEOG 870 - Capstone in GIS

This is a sample syllabus.

This sample syllabus is a representative example of the information and materials included in this course. Information about course assignments, materials, and dates listed here is subject to change at any time. Definitive course details and materials will be available in the official course syllabus, in Canvas, when the course begins.

Overview

This capstone course develops Master in Geographic Information Systems (MGIS) students' research and technical competencies to meet degree requirements and to serve their future career goals. Students completing this course will synthesize the learning from their previous MGIS coursework and develop an applied spatial analysis project that utilizes contemporary methods, technologies, and data sources to solve a problem in their field. In this course, students will use discussion forums, create presentations, perform directed independent research, collaboratively critique their peers' research, and write a scholarly paper.

This course is the culminating experience for the MGIS program where students demonstrate their academic skills and apply what they have learned, toward developing new insights to a geographic information challenge.

Objectives

After this course, students will be able to:

Demonstrate the technical and analytical competencies required to effectively design, manage, and apply spatial, analytical, and visual technologies to develop insights into a challenge in the GIScience field,
Architect insights that advance the application of geographic information systems to address a challenge in the GIScience field by leveraging and integrating contemporary cartographic and spatial analysis frameworks,
Communicate spatial data quality and spatial analysis technical knowledge, including ideas, designs, data analysis, findings, or decision justification, in appropriate written, oral, and graphic presentation formats,
Demonstrate proficiency in geographic information systems to define a challenge, create, and implement analytical insights addressing that challenge within a GIScience domain, and
Practice spatial analysis, leveraging advances in geographic information systems to develop an ethically responsible and reproducible workflow to solve a geographic challenge.

Required Materials

The materials listed here represent those that may be included in this course. Students will find a definitive list in the course syllabus, in Canvas, when the course begins.

Required Textbooks

O’Leary, Z. (2018). Little Quick Fix: Research Question. Sage Publications.
O’Leary, Z. (2019). Little Quick Fix: Present Your Research. Sage Publications.

Thomas, R. (2019). Little Quick Fix: Turn Your Literature Review into an Argument. Sage Publications.
Whiffin, C. J. (2021). Little Quick Fix: Choose your Methodology. Sage Publications.
Haaker, M. (2021). Little Quick Fix: Choose your Statistical Test. Sage Publications.
Gatrell, J.D., Bierly, G. D., Jensen, R. R., and Rajiv R. (2020). Research Design and Proposal Writing in Spatial Science. This book is freely available through Penn State's library.
Lida, P., Ruegg, R., de Boer, M., Araki, N., and Agnello, M. F.. (2020). The Concise APA Handbook. This book is freely available through Penn State's library.

Prerequisites

GEOG 583: Geospatial System Analysis and Design, GEOG 586: Geographic Information Analysis, and GEOG 871: Geospatial Technology Project Management.

Expectations

We have worked hard to make this the most effective and convenient educational experience possible. How much and how well you learn depends on your attitude, diligence, and willingness to ask for clarifications or help when needed. We are here to help you succeed. Please keep up with the class schedule and take advantage of opportunities to communicate with us and with your fellow students. You can expect to spend 12 - 15 hours per week on classwork.

Major Assignments

Students earn grades that reflect the extent to which they achieve the learning objectives listed above. Opportunities to demonstrate learning include the following deliverables, and grades will be based on points assigned to each of several components of the course as follows:

Peer assessment activities
Initial project proposal summary
Literature review
Project methodology
Proposal paper
Proposal presentation
Final project presentation
Final project paper

Course Schedule

Course Schedule
Week	Assignment
Week 1: Define Your Research	Identify and describe the capstone project idea. Submit a draft of your project proposal. Schedule writing support.
Week 2-3: Review the Literature	Summarize existing literature relevant to your topic from appropriate sources (journal articles, websites, etc.), using it to refine your project proposal. Submit a literature review.
Week 4 - 5: Gather Your Data and Identify Methodology	Locate the data needed for your capstone project, identify methods and analysis, and summarize the technologies you will need for your capstone project. Submit a description of data gathering and methodology.
Week 6: Write Your Capstone Project Proposal	Consolidate earlier deliverables into a complete formal project proposal. Submit a formal Capstone Project Proposal.
Week 7-8: Present Your Capstone Proposal and Peer Reviews	Develop an oral presentation of your research proposal and present it to your peers. Provide your classmates with feedback on their proposal presentations. Submit your Proposal Presentation. Present to a peer-review group. Review peer presentations.
Weeks 9-12: Fine Tune Your Project Proposal	Continue work on your project proposal, making revisions based on feedback from your instructor. Submit Progress Report 1. Submit Progress Report 2.
Week 13-14: Final Deliverables	Finalize your project proposal and make changes to your presentation based on peer feedback. Submit your Final Project Proposal. Submit your Final Presentation.
Week 15: Moving Forward	Discuss the lessons learned in GEOG 870 and publishing and presenting your research. Participate in the Lessons Learned Discussion. Participate in the Publishing and Presenting Your Research Discussion.

Policies